December 16, 2012

Here’s the tribute to my longtime friend, Allan Rinde, who passed away on friday. He was a former publicist, the west coast editor of Cashbox magazine, head of West Coast A&R at Columbia Records, (who was behind Billy Joel’s first hit “Piano Man”), the man who helped to break “Jesus Christ Superstar”, and owner of “Genghis Cohen”, one of Hollywood’s top restaurants, which I named and hosted for many years.

(i’m still not able to use my hands or even type with one finger so i’m reposting articles from my blog and chapters from my autobiography in which allan appears. it is followed by comments, stories, and pictures from other friends of his.)

“In the fall of 1968 I wrote a special press release for my new album as “Shadow” Mann, on the label my partner Kelli Ross and I co – own with the nefarious Morris Levy! I walk up Broadway to 57thstreet to Cashbox magazine. I give my three page release to the new guy who’s just started to work there, a former publicist, Allan Rinde. He glances at it as I hype him on all the excitement going on at my company and how Morris Levy is going to make me the new Tommy James! When he hands it back to me it has a C- at the top with a few grammatical errors circled, I realize this asshole has actually graded my paper! I hold my tongue and tell him I’ll bring it back “corrected” before his deadline.

The next morning I bring in the revised press release. Allan finds it acceptable and puts it in the magazine. Through gritted teeth I thank him for his suggestions and invite him to have dinner that night with my producer Ronnie Haffkine and me at the Roundtable, a hot night club that Morris Levy owns. On our way downstairs to be seated, a belligerent drunk sees me in my Black Suede Shadow outfit with a giant red eagle on the back, then pushes me out of the way! When he makes a nasty comment. Two tough guys suddenly appear, throw him down the stairs, and ask, “Are you all right, Mr. Shadow?”I brush myself off, pick up my black floppy Shadow hat from the floor; compose myself as the tough guys ask what should they do with him? I benevolently say, “Let ‘em go…this time,”. As soon as they eject him from the club, a somewhat impressed Allan and I join Ronnie at my usual table.”

When my friend, the Father Of Woodstock, Artie Kornfeld invited me to the festival in 1969, I thought it was going to be a great picnic, I wasn’t expecting a life changing experience!Back in 1967 my wife Sheilah was working at Mercury records as a secretary to Artie Kornfield (“Pied Piper”, “Dead Man’s Curve”) We hung out a lot with Artie and his wife Linda. When we got divorced I got the dog and she got the Kornfelds!

Then one day Sheilah calls me up to tell me that she’s working with Artie again. It seems that he and his partner Michael Lang are putting on a music and art festival at the end of August in upstate NY at a place called Woodstock, and she’s his personal assistant. It sounds a bit disorganized, but I don’t say anything, if anyone can pull it together, they can.It’s 3 hours before Allan Rinde and Rick Bolsom, from Mercury Records, Lita Eliscu a freelance writer (Rolling Stone), Cookie the groupie, and I are scheduled to go up to the Woodstock Music and Art festival. Artie Kornfeld and Michael Lang, are having serious troubles getting permits and have to change locations to Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, NY, at the last minute.

Unfortunately, I’m having serious problems of my own, I can’t score any grass to take to the event!As a last resort I call my friend Heather MacRae, who’s currently starring in the smash hit, “Hair” On Broadway. She must know someone in the “Hippie” cast who can help us out. She leaves our names at the backstage door with a note to go upstairs to see her friends, James Rado and Gerome Ragni, who co-wrote the musical.

When we walk into Rado and Ragni’s dressing room, they look at Allan and me suspiciously, with cameras hanging around our necks, and tape recorders dangling from our shoulders. I laugh and nervously explain that we’re not cops or from the press trying to get a story, and show them our Woodstock press pass. Fortunately they believe us and when we tell them our “predicament”, they sell us a “lid” from their personal stash (at cost) and hand us a couple of capsules of mescaline for free, in the spirit of “Peace and Love”. We thank them and go to the garage to pick up Allan’s Oldsmobile Cutlass, and our friends, then we head off for our weekend adventure.”

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“Let The Sun Shine…Let The Sun Shine In…The Sun Shine In!”

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The festival gets off to a great start with a set by Ritchie Havens, and then it starts to rain … and rain … and rain. There’s a buzz already that this is going to be a historic event. The press tent is alive with anticipation of seeing the artists and people behind the scenes.I’m skeptical when I hear that a lawyer is taking over as head of Columbia Records, until I meet Clive Davis awash in the rain, the mud, and the good vibrations. How cool it is for the head of a record company to be out here “roughing it” like this with his artists!Although my friends and I have warm, dry accommodations, food, water, and plenty of intoxicants, a half a million other people who are also here have to rough it in the mud and the rain!

We run into a completely soaked (and delightfully stoned) Artie Kornfeld, The Father Of Woodstock, who tells us that thousands of people are crashing the gates, and Woodstock has become a free concert! Starry eyed and drooling, he turns around and melts back into the crowd.Thousands of people are still pouring in after midnight and I warn my friends that we were probably going to be in the middle of a riot between the “haves” and the “have nots!”I knew that this whole “Peace and Love” thing could blowup in a minute … but no one is listening to me as they slowly pass the bong around. I don’t know if it’s my paranoia of “Drug Crazed Hippies” rushing the motel or my fear of getting my new Fry boots dirty … I just knew I had to get the hell outa’ there!After being at Woodstock less than 24 hours, I say goodbye to my friends and decide to hitchhike back to the city.

I’m 27 yeas old but, hitchhiking is something I never tried before. At the side of an on ramp, I see Vince Aletti, writer for the Village Voice, who I know from the press parties I crash. He has his thumb out and looks pretty discouraged. This is his first time hitchhiking, too … but I act like a veteran and convince him that if we put on great big smiles, and act sincere … we’re bound to get a ride! In less than 10 minutes we’re picked up by a guy in an old Chevy wagon, who happens to be going all the way into the city! Just like the guys who rode the rails and became “Boxcar Buddies”, Vince and I had a shared experience that went “without a hitch”, so to speak, “Hitchhiking pals” for the rest of our lives!Finally, I’m back in my apartment, thankful to be away from all of those people … I don’t believe all those people … Damn! It’s still early, so I pack my duffel bag and grab a subway out to Coney Island, stopping only long enough to swallow a little capsule Rado and Ragni, had given me.

I don’t know why, but the rest of the day is magical! I feel so much love for Everyone I run into. I don’t even notice that I’m surrounded by a million people on the beach … twice as many as there was at Woodstock … but now … somehow I don’t care!”

“Forty years ago, I was general professional manager of Warner Bros. Music, living in Hollywood, when my friend Don Williams, who held a similar position at MCA music, played me an acetate of “Jesus Christ Superstar”and I freaked out!!! My instinct told me …this was going to be a phenomenon!!! I asked Don to play it for Allan Rinde, the beloved head of Columbia records A+R dept….he was as excited as we were and proceded to hold listening parties…that included all of the underground tastemakers of the time.MCA credits us with breaking the album. I hope Tim and Andy have forgiven me for trying to talk them out of writing “Evita”…..Who would go to see a show about an ex-dictators wife anyway?”

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“If it sounds like I’m dropping names…I am! Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Will Smith, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Depp, Rod Stewart, Luther Vandross, Sean Penn, Jodie Foster, and Forrest Whitaker were just a few of our customers.On any given night, I could walk into Genghis Cohen, the Hollywood hot spot I named and hosted, and feel like I was walking onto a movie set. While my friend Allan Rinde, who owned the restaurant, was making sure every customer was having a wonderful Chinese dining experience, I was paying a little extra attention to the stars. It was about this time that I had begun working with 3- dimensional acrylic fabric paint to create a new look for myself. I started enhancing old Hawaiian Shirts with 3-dimensional acrylic paint…which patrons bought right off my back! It wasn’t long before I had a profitable little sideline.

I remember while recording across the street at Cherokee studios, Bruce Willis and his producer, Robert Kraft would come in for egg rolls during breaks. This was during the end of the run of his hit TV show “Moonlighting” when Bruce was also performing around town with his blues band doing vocals and playing harmonica. From the conversations I had with him, I found out he liked blues and early Rock And Roll singers, so I made a special shirt for him of his favorites who passed away. It was called the “Rock and Roll Heaven” Shirt, based on the classic song my friend Alan Day wrote with the late Johnny Stevenson.It was a black T-shirt, ripped a bit here and there, with with a stenciled “Heaven” on the front, with hand painted signatures of his favorite artists. I happened to give it to him on the same night he signed a 7 million dollar endorsement for Seagrams Whiskey. To be perfectly honest, later when he thanked me and said goodnight, I don’t think that the patented smirk he was wearing on his face was for the shirt!

Another actor/ musician who would drop in from time to time, was Johnny Depp. He owned a club up on the Sunset Strip, “The Viper Room”, and whenever he had yen for Chinese food he’d come down to Genghis. The first night I met him, we talked about music. Then I asked if he would mind if I asked him a personal question? “Can I see the tattoo?”The tattoo I was talking about was a hot topic in all the tabloids. When Johnny broke up with Wynonna Ryder, he altered a tattoo he had on his arm that said “Wynonna Forever” to say “Wino Forever”. When he rolled up his sleeve and showed me, I knew he was cool!

On another night when I came into work, I saw Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey, Jr. sitting at a tiny table for 2 in the middle of an empty restaurant!When they finished dinner, I sat with them and told them how much I enjoyed Sarah in “Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun” and Robert in “Weird Science”. They told me that they appreciated how they were treated at Genghis Cohen. Other restaurants, wanted them to get in and out because they weren’t of drinking age and could only spend so much. I told them whenever you or your friends wanted to come in just call me. I assured them that “At Genghis Cohen, your wish…Is your problem!”They laughed and not only became restaurant regulars, but became enthusiastic supporters of my wearable art.One night Sarah was trying on one of my creations in the wine room at Genghis Cohen. She dresses and flicks off the light switch but it’s NOT the switch for the closet it’s the switch for the ENTIRE restaurant! Allan throws open the door, turns the darkened restaurant lights back on and GLARES at me. Sarah confesses and Allan smiles…after all who can stay mad at Sarah Jessica Parker?

Mike Melvoin at the piano “When I first moved to California thirty years ago and worked for Warner Brothers Music, I wanted to give back to the music community, so I joined the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences, where an enthusiastic active member, Mike Melvoin took me under his wing.I never worked with him in the studio, but as a music fan, I knew that he was considered one of the best keyboardists in Los Angeles.In addition to being one of the best Jazz players in the business, he played on such Pop classics as Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” the Jackson 5′s “ABC,” and “Pet Sounds” and “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys as well as Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” John Lennon’s “Stand By Me,” Barbra Streisand’s “Evergreen” and Quincy Jones’ all-star collective, “We Are the World.”Although I was a New Yorker and considered an outsider to the closely knit LA music scene, Mike helped me gain a foothold in the creative community.

At the time, NARAS, was criticized for having an aging membership, being out of touch with contemporary music and accused of giving out Grammys to the wrong people. Mike supported me in an effort to attract younger voters and helped me, producer Nik Venet (“The Beach Boys), Columbia Records A&R Man, Allan Rinde, and songwriter Van Dyke Parks (“Heroes and Villans”) form listening sessions around the country to play new recordings and artists for our members, so they could vote more knowledgably.It wasn’t long before NARAS was respected again as the premier music organization and rivaled the new kid on the block, THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS in the TV ratings!

Soon after Mike Melvoin and I were elected to the Board Of Governors, we traveled around the country, New York, Atlanta and Nashville on behalf of NARAS. It was right after the Civil Rights Movement and while traveling through the south there were times when Mike had to soothe my hurt feelings whenever I encountered the stinging barbs of racism…which I never forgot.Mike went on to become the first musician to become President of the Academy and through the years remained active in the organization. The LA TIMES reported. In 2011, when the Academy made changes in the Grammy awards structure. Melvoin was in the vanguard of the movement to rescind the category changes. As a pianist whose career had touched every stylistic era, he was especially bothered by the effect of the changes upon instrumentalists.“Everyone who has ever played an instrument,” he said in a public statement, “has had the possibility of receiving recognition from the Grammys gutted. That cannot and will not stand!”

January 23, 2011

When I sat down to write about The Troubadour Family Reunion last Monday night, I decided to let some of the people who were there tell about it in their own words.

Photographer/ artist, “Lezlie Sokol”, a former waitress at the club and one of the organizers of the event, had this to say,“The music and the love that was with us decades ago was with us again on Monday night. It wasn’t a re-creation…it was a continuation. We all came together with the spirit that was The Troubadour, those times and we people who were there were re-animated and Doug Weston’s dream came alive within all of us for one more magical night!”Photographer/ musician Henry Diltz Reminisced, “The Troubadour was my old stomping ground starting in 1962 when my folk group, The Modern Folk Quartet, played there 3 days after we arrived from Honolulu. We were signed to an agency and record company from that one performance.At the reunion the other night we were able to reconnect with many old and dear friends. We are all the same young age in our minds as we were those years ago, but now we look like our parents and grandparents. Many of us who were musicians went with the Troubadour waitresses back then, and I had a drink at the bar with my old girlfriend, Alexa, a former waitress. The live music at the reunion was epic stuff as Bob Lind, Van Dyke Parks, Jackson Browne, Rick Cuna, David Jackson, Michael McGuiness, Ruthann Friedman and others took the stage.I remember photographing Bob Lind in the room which is now the bar but was then McCabe’s guitar shop. It’s a rare thing these days to walk into a bar and find it full of people you know…just like the good old days.”Allan Rinde, former “underground tastemaker” and Chinese Restaurateur said, “Aside from seeing a few old friends I’d lost contact with and meeting some new ones, there was just this sense of energy at Doug Weston’s Troubadour (glad they kept his name on it) that made this evening a great success. Of course it all dissipated the next day when I realized that while I was having a good time at the good old Troub, Don Kirchner lay dying in a hospital in Boca Raton. Oh, the humanity! And one more thing: thank you Jackson for the tribute to Warren Zevon and for the love you put into your set that night.Publicist Bobbi Cowan commented, “It was an amazing evening, full of surprises and warm memories and feelings. One of the best was seeing you there, along with Allan, Kimble and Patti, Billy James, Ronnie Haffkine, Ochs and Sandee, and so many of our pals from way back when.

The music was AWESOME, particularly Van Dyke Parks and Jackson, and it made me feel like those magical days and nights were not a distant dream, but TRULY real. Somebody should put a documentary together with the stories from so many of the colorful and funny people who helped to create this business we once loved (and subsequently watched dissolve in the greed of the last 20-30 years.)Former KMET DJ Richard Kimble chimed in, “It looked like a meeting of the aarp, rock division”…….”It’s the only time I’ve gone to the Troub and remembered being there”…..Hey I’m here all week, try the veal!!!!!!!”Producer Ron Haffkine (Dr.Hook, Shel Silverstein) remarked, “What a blast!!! as I posted on fb before the event, I really believe that some of the success of the reunion had to do with Artie working hard letting people know about it….I think we all know that when Artie promotes something, things happen….I couldn’t have had a better time….Ran into someone from the very first act I ever produced..Long time ago…Also one of the members of DR HOOK that I hadn’t seen in a while…I flew in from Nashville just for this reunion and to see some of my dear friends that I don’t get to see often enough….Hope there’s another one sooner rather than later…I don’t want to be on that list just inside the door….”The list that Ron is referring to is one with names of people who are no longer with us who had a link to the Troubadour (This list will be posted on the official reunion website.)The evening’s host Larry Murray said “Amazing..Grace! Heartfelt thanx to all who made it a nite to be cherished..organizers..performers..audience..lounge lizards.. and the eternal spirit of the Troubadour… for making my nite an absolute ‘Holy Hoot’ !!!”Publicist/ cyclist Billy James, seen here with singer/ songwriter Penny Nichols’ … Photographer/guitar maker Loni Specter exclaimed, “Artie it was so good to see you and Allan Rinde there! So many faces I thought I’d never see again. A truly frightening experience! It was a great night indeed!”Songwriter/former member of the Association, Terry Kirkman reflected, “I had a good time but was somewhat disappointed at the low turn out of performers. I wish there had been some forum provided for shared stories. what surprised me most, though, was that after an hour of making the round and reading the nametags I found the number of familiar old time regulars to be enough to give me a true blue de ja vu….with my feelings for those there very much the same as I remember them being all those years ago…. like thumbing through an album of pictures….. nodding acquaintances mostly…. just a couple of real honest to goodness friends…but very, very glad I went…very glad I got to share it with my wife who was not around here in those days. i wish we’d had time to talk, artie…maybe next time around. god bless.”Music publisher Don Williams exclaimed, “It was a very special evening the Troubadour Reunion this past Monday. Thank youfor putting the story on your web page and giving the emphasis needed to ensure success. I had a wonderful time”Naomi Riopelle, another one of the organizers of the Reunion remarked, “I think the idea was to gather together and perhaps to relive a memory of a time and place, with the music and the people that in a very significant way helped to shape our lives and make us who we are…whether or not we realized it back then . I believe we succeeded……”Bass player Colin Cameron smiled and said, “It seems an unbroken circle finally completed its rounds at the Reunion, as my music career and post-Vietnam service civilian life really began with the people I met at the Troubadour, and the many great acts I was able to listen to there. It was a joy to see so many of them once again.”Finally here’s my pal from the past journalist/blogger Todd Everett with the wrap-up for the evening,“It was one of the most amazing nights of my life! I have heard so much love and joy expressed about the success of this event and how beautifully it brought back a time in a place that was so brilliant in it’s day. No place on earth ever rivaled what happened at Doug Weston’s Troubadour ever! How blessed we all have been to have been there then and then again last Monday night.Like most of us, I didn’t know what to expect from the Troubadour Family Reunion. But several people I knew would be coming — mostly people I saw fairly often, but an indication of quality. So at the very least it would be worthwhile on that level.As it turned out, of course, the thing had become a real event. I’ll name some of the people I knew; I’m sure others had the same experience with people they knew.Maureen Donaldson (shown with Sandee Lewis Ochs), bless her soul, had come in from England; she swears specifically for the event. Matt Kramer had no other reason I know of for having returned to West Hollywood from wherever it is he’s living these days (Texas, I think), and former hoot master Roger Perry arrived from Oregon. Artie Wayne, whom I sadly didn’t see this time, and Richard Kimball, whom I did, had come in from the desert. Michael Ochs took time from promoting the documentary about his late brother, and counting his own money. I knew it was the Troubadour bar, I told them, when the first faces I saw were Michael, and Alan Rinde.By the time I left – 11:30 or so – Alan, Artie and several others had already retreated to Genghis Cohen, the restaurant Alan had owned, and Artie named and hosted for however many years (has he ever mentioned that?).Though the layout of the main room has changed quite a bit — much larger stage; no tables; bar in the back — it was familiar enough that I might have been back in the ’70s, which was pretty much my era, though years earlier I’d driven 60 miles down the coast from Ventura to see acts including the Dillards (with Roger Miller opening), when the stage was still at what’s now the left-hand wall.I spent half an hour or so in the bar, meeting old pals and choking on a piece of cheese; when Lezlie asked for a glass of water for me, the guy behind our end of the bar said we’d have to go to the woman at the other end. If I’d died from asphyxiation, my survivors would stand to make a fortune! Oddly, when I recovered, he was able to sell me a drink without consulting the other bartender. Ah, the Troubadour!I’ll let others get into the acts – Van Dyke, Jackson, and so on; but will add that I was very impressed by two “second generation” groups, fronted by people whose parents had (in one case sort of) worked at the Troubadour. Paul Riopelle, whose mother Naomi was a long-time waitress at the club, was in a rock band called The Motion with Steven Wolfson and Dsvid Jenkins; the three members of Blackfire are all the progeny of Berta Benally, who was more of an Ash Grove person, really, but was right at home in this company. Native Americans of the Navajo nation, Blackfire is more “indian” than Redbone, and played a strong mix of contemporary, punk and traditional music. Had I a label (and everybody can be thankful I don’t), I’d sign them in a minute. As it stands, they already record; their more recent album produced by Ed Stasium, whose credits include the Ramones, Talking Heads and Smithereens. In other words, they need no help from me, even if I were in a position to give it to ‘em.One disappointment: three members of Hearts & Flowers were present: Larry Murray, Rick Cunha and David Jackson. But they didn’t see fit to reconvene, even though Jackson did back Cunha on a solo set, along with anybody else who needed a bass player.That, too, was just like the old days.”—

to Coleen M. Pumfrey for the photo of the Troubadour signSpecial thanks to “Lezlie Sokol” and Sally Stevens for helping me with this article. .Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne- https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/for those might not have recognized me at the reunion with my beard…I shaved

copyright 2011 by artie wayne

The first time I met songwriter Toni Wine (“Candida”, “Tonight You’re Gonna’ Fall In Love With Me”) she was only 14 years old and we were both staff writers for Don Kirshner at ALDON MUSIC.Over the years we remained friends and occasionally worked together.

Back in 1966, when I was writing songs and producing for Scepter Records, my friend Stanley Greenberg who was head of A+R asked me to rehearse a new act he was producing, Diane and Anita.Although we went into the studio with my song, “One By One” as the A-Side, the song that Toni Wine brought Stanley, “A Groovy Kind of Love”, which she co-wrote with Carol Bayer Sager came out of the studio clearly the winner! I’m proud to say that ours was the first recording of the classic, which was followed by two number one records, one by the Mindbenders the other by Phil Collins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsC_SARyPzk

Jack Gold Allan and I spent many an hour talking about our hobby, collecting movie posters. He was an all class guy, RIP Allen. I just learned of his passing by my friend Chris Crist who now lives in Palm Springs.

When a human passes away it takes three days for the spirit to leave the earth and make a transition to the other side. When a pet passes away the process takes the same amount of time.The pet is more confused at first, but becomes more accepting of what’s going on when they are reunited with their animal friends on the other side, who are there to help with the crossover.

The pet is happy to go back “home”, unless they’ve formed an exceptionally strong bond with their earthly caretaker, which makes them want to stay on earth a little longer to make sure their “human” is going to be all right without them.

We can be assured, that these little spirits will be watching out for us for the rest of our lives. I can attest that many long gone animal friends have come back to me in dreams, meditations, and semi-darkened rooms, during times of stress or loneliness and helped me get through the agony of it all.

As I’m sitting on the patio by the hummingbird feeder my little pal, Larry, flies by and I can almost feel his wings sympathetically touch my knee as I weep for my little pal Streaker, who had to be put down a few days ago or face a long painful illness.When my friend, Allan Rinde moved to Nashville to get married to singer/songwriter Toni Wine, he asked me to take care of his little calico cat, Streaker and her boyfriend, a 23 lb. white tom called Whoppy, because his future wife was allergic.

For the past 14 years Allan has paid for their food, toys, and thousands of dollars in medical expenses. When Whoppy passed two and a half years ago, “Streak” and I became closer sharing my pillow, as well as a place at the dinner table. About a year ago, after Allan got a divorce he offered to rent me a couple of rooms in his house in Palm Springs, where we’ve lived ever since.

Although he hadn’t spent much with her over the last decade, Streaker loved Allan and when we all lived together “Streak” would sit in front of his computer, all night long acting as his assistant. While Allan spoiled her with gourmet cat food, exotic toys, and even a recirculating water fountain, I kept her paws on the ground by yelling, “ARE YOU CRAZY?”, and sentences ending in “ucker”, whenever she got out of line.

I close my eyes, visualize her and tell her that it’s time for her to go and I’m going to be alright. Whoppy, who’s come back to escort her “home”, looks contented, but Streaker give me one last look goodbye…then sadly walks away.I want to call out, “Don’t go!”, but the three day window of transition is closing fast and if they don’t leave now they could become trapped between here and the other side for eternity!

As I sit weeping, my little friends disappear into the morning…and a few minutes later Larry the hummingbird reappears to introduce me to his new girlfriend. He senses that this isn’t a good time, and they both bolt off into a sky full of fluffy white clouds.As I watch them leave, I gaze up, and for a few minutes watch the clouds change forms, as clouds are known to do.

I smile as I see likenesses of all the animal friends I’ve had in my life, Waldo, my parakeet in grade school, my aunt Wan’s dogs Fluffy and Queenie, who protected me from bullies, Chipper, the little spitz, who turned nasty and had his name changed to Al for Al Capone, then when he became nice again, changed it back to Chipper!There was Walter, who led my grandmother to safety through a fire, Duke, Harold, Pete, Tippy, and of course, my little Cairn Terrier Nookie, my companion for 12 years.

Even though I know Streaker’s in good company…it doesn’t mean I’m going to miss her any less….but seeing Whoppy and Streaker playing together again in the clouds, and in my medical marajuana tinted memories is inspiring and proof positive that true love lives forever.

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Goodbye my monkey friends…until we meet again.Love Artie

l to r Sheilah Kent, Artie Wayne, and Allan Rinde

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Thank you Allan, you’ve done so much for so many…especially me…may you ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

Sadly. Artie

P.S. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM SOME OF ALLAN’S FRIENDS…

It’s so hard to believe that Alan is gone. How lucky Ronnie, Sunny, and I were to have shared a fun loving recent dinner with Allan in my home.

Joel Diamond

From comments on FACEBOOK…

Thank you Artie, this trip across Memory Lane was very enjoyable. Too bad that it had to be prompted by the passing of one of the Nicest, Finest, Gentleman who ever graced the Halls that Hunter Thomson spoke so disparagingly of. Goodbye OUR friend you were simply “THA BEST” R.I.P.

jerry heller

Ron Haffkine Very hard to get through reading this and realizing again that Allan is gone…Every time one of us passes away a piece of our history goes with him or her…Knowing the realities of life sure doesnt make it any easier to accept….

Ken Schaffer Director of West Coast A&R for Columbia, Allan got subsumed, perhaps too deeply, into the spirit of an office Christmas party and gently – lovingly, without a bone the balance – lobbed a cream pie in his secretary’s face. Apparently, she was less in the spirit… the creampuff got Allan got fired.

I flew into LA a couple of years after Allan got the ole’ CBS boot … happy to be going the next day to a big party at Don Williams’ fabulous but forever unfurnished estate in Encino.

“And Rinde is doing the cooking!” – people said that to me with all the pride that might befit a promise of Racquel Welch giving blow jobs. “Rinde?!!!” “Rinde cooking?!” I was incredulous.

As my roommate in New York for a couple of years before the creampuff incident, Allan had, like so many of our other music business friends [no names], defected to the West Coast; I even used to describe Los Angeles as the Badlands “… where everybody who blew it in New York moved to to start over again.”

The point though: when Allan lived with me, he couldn’t boil a freaking kettle of water without somehow melting the bottom of the kettle. we went through a lot of teapots.

They say if you are dealt lemons – make lemonade. To his credit, instead of grieving over the loss of his corner office, Allan had gone on – unbelievably – to take, of all things, WTF!, Chinese cooking lessons. By the time I arrived arrived for the party, his epicurean skills had become legendary in Hollywood and West LA. He’d even gone so far as to open a restaurant… the restaurant he opened became The spot in LA.

I’m broken up about Allan’s death. But lemons into lemonade: I’ll forever crack up reliving the look on Allan’s face (exasperated) every time (this went on for years) I referred to Genghis’ as “GENGHIS COHEN’S KOSHER CHINESE” — as only best friends can.

Louise Luna Hi Artie – thank you for letting us know about Allan – very sad news indeed. I can’t count the hours (or martinis) spent at Genghis Cohen and Allan always so friendly as one walked through the door and you right in view. R.I.P. Allan….R.I.P.

IN MEMORY OF ALLAN RINDE I’D LIKE TO GIVE A FREE COPY OF MY BOOK, “I DID IT FOR A SONG” TO ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM OR WOULD’VE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. JUST E-MAIL ME AT artiewayne@gmail.com Above photo by Pamela Kath Soloman “i want to let you know about my friend allan rinde, who died this weekend. allan rinde was a wonderful, wonderful man who was way ahead of his time when it came to knowing his music, and knowing his food. when i first moved to los angeles for newsweek, we played volleyball together on the venice beach.but he really loved music. when i reported the cover story for newsweek on bruce springsteen, allan was a close advisor. (he also worked for columbia records) he and i both hung with billy joel before billy was on anyone’s radar. he fancied himself a chinese food expert, and then proved it by going to china, finding a chef and opening his restaurant — with a great name — ghengis cohen, on fairfax avenue in los angeles. i was one of the first ones in the door. and everyone in the music business was right there with me. artie wayne, who i knew from his days in music publishing (and volleyball) came in as the host. and every top musician and record company executive in town came there for dinner of crackerjack shrimp, mabu beef, and other specialties — and in one corner of the restaurant, if you listened closely, you were entertained. on one night you’d hear the familiar guitar riffs of taj mahal, or the distinct tone of joni mitchell. no, it wasn’t someone’s playlist. it WAS taj mahal or joni mitchell! so many solo artists and groups played there before anyone knew who they were. it was part of allan’s magic that the artists would come to the restaurant, and music executives would somehow discover them over a dinner of cold sesame noodles….last night, when i heard that allan had died, i went back to genghis cohen for dinner. many familiar faces were at the bar to toast his memory. it’s been thirty years since allan opened the restaurant, and last night, in the corner, there was another music group playing. i didn’t get their name, but if history is any indication, we’ll all know them soon. but i consider myself lucky…i knew allan rinde and he will be missed. Peter Greenberg Travel editor cbs news

November 21, 2011

Okay, I admit it…I was/am a ruthless self promoter. When I moved to California in 1971 and became general professional manager of Warner Brothers music, I did everything I could to get noticed by the show business community. I would sit by the pool of the Beverly hills hotel and have my secretary page me every few minutes, so the luminaries would know who I was. I also became friendly with members of the Paparazzi, who would take my picture chatting and mingling with the stars.

I remember being at a party with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neil, who hadn’t made their affair public yet. My photographer friend, Andy Kent, snapped a picture of the three of us, which prompted Ryan to beat the shit out of him. I don’t know how Andy did it, but the film was saved and made it to the cover of the National Enquire the following week! ( Andy sued and got a handsome settlement. )

Later that week, I wasn’t able to attend Barbra’s session for “Since I Fell For You” which was in Warner Brothers,”What’s up Doc?”, for fear she would recognize me.

I didn’t see her again until the late 80′s when she came into Allan Rinde’s, Genghis Cohen, a chinese restaurant in a Jewish neighborhood, which I named and hosted. My longtime friend and sometime song writing partner, Richard Baskin came in with Barbra, who was his girlfriend at the time. As Richard and I caught up on old times, she checked out the menu, nervously reminding Richard that their recording session, which he was producing at Cherokee studios across the street, started in 10 minutes.

He told her not to worry because the restaurant would deliver it. I explained to Richard that we didn’t have delivery service. He looked disappointed, but said, “We’re right across the street…Artie, if you bring it over yourself then you can hear what I’ve been cutting with Barbra.” How could I refuse an offer like that, besides my friend Dee Robb, who also owns the studio was engineering the date.

Twenty minutes later, I took a couple of our dinner specials and six egg rolls across the street to the studio. they seemed happy to see me and Barbara stopped the playback to check out the order. Suddenly, the mood changed as she looked over the bill. She was outraged at the price of egg rolls at $1.75 each! She went on and on how the price of our egg rolls were a rip-off, while Richard, Dee and I just looked at each other…then broke out laughing! I reminded her that since the studio was costing $300.00 an hour and she had spent 10 minutes ranting, these were going to be the most expensive eggrolls in history!

After she calmed down and paid the bill, Richard told her about my background in publishing. She asked for a playback of a song she had co-written and asked me for my opinion. I was really impressed and told her how much I admired the song and her underated talent as a writer. Her eyes lit up and for the moment the price of egg rolls was almost forgotten…almost.

May 22, 2011

Author/ publicist Bob Levinson says,” Dunno if I’m repeating myself here, but want to make sure you know I classify your book as a “must read” for anybody who was in the music business or interested in the music business when it was more about the music than about the business. Gone are the days; shamefully, they ain’t coming back anytime soon.

Joel Diamond Producer, Says, “Classic pictures Artie…how lucky we are to have had contact and know some of these people first hand who could never be “duplicated” again in our industry…”

Patti Dahlstrom Singer/songwriter, adds, “So exciting and great pictures..but not as good as the stories inside. So many will love this book!”

tommy james(“I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW”, “CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION”) Says: “hey, artie, you are a million hit legend in the music business….still keeping the good times alive with all your great stories and information….keep rockin’!”

I love the songs you got to us. “HEAVY CHURCH”, “PLAY SOMETHING SWEET”, “LET ME SERENADE YOU”, FREEDOM FOR THE STALLION”, and “EASY EVIL”, The fans have put together a few videos for you!

“I Did it for a Song” is a poignant tale told in fast-paced, first person, you-are-there style. You never want to stop reading it as you work your way through the heyday of 60s, 70s, and 80s music at its best, from the Brill Building to the bright lights of LA and all stops in between. Artie Wayne is a born storyteller, and every day of his career in the music business as a songwriter led to simply more and more exciting times. He’s met everyone, knows everyone, and has helped create more good connections for music professionals to have their music heard, recorded, and shared over the years. Outside the music world, Wayne is a just-plain-great writer and he cites Sidney Sheldon’s encouragement, “just write, Artie” as the impetus that set him off and writing. Don’t be offput that this is an e-book. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading it on your computer, your Kindle or the back of an envelope. It’s the inside skinny as he relates stories and answers with the real versions of what happened, because he was there. First-person fun, bright lights, big names, the music industry who’s who that includes those on their way up, and down, in the business. Dare you to put it down, once you pick it up. Artie Wayne: singer, songwriter, wordsmith

Stephen-Craig Aristei , independent film and TV music supervisor comments, “The pictures and the stories are all “greats”…When people read your book, they will realize how each and everyone of their lives was touched in some way, by what you did…We were a part of the industry when “people had fun” with what they did….Joel is right when he says “we are all so lucky to have had contact with so many of these people”…..I was blessed to work with, fight with and have success with many of the true “greats” of our industry….And Artie, you are one of them…You are truly the last of that breed of creative individual who truly make the music and the business great….you are one of the “Last of the Greats” ! ! Everyone who has ever loved music, needs to read your book….!”

Barry Oslander Producer Says, “Artie like you, I have been waiting for this day since I read your book months before it came out and read it in one day…. Your a man who just wrote some more music history which in turn will bring bring back many minds to dreaming of the good old days and the way it was in the days when the music biz was great and we all were starting out and were friends joined by the music in our blood….Good luck with your book.”

Jerry Ross Producer (Bobby Hebb, Keith, Spanky and our Gang) comments, “Artie: New York Yankees 1930….Lefty Gomez made the well known comment: “I’d rather be lucky than good”You are blessed to be lucky; being in the right place at the right time, and so good at what you have accomplished…Congrats on your book!!!”

Mike Edwards Says, “Hi Artie. You were kind enough to send me an advance copy of your book, “I Did It For A Song”. Even though it arrived around the Christmas period, I could not put it down. The details of your career in the music business are well told and are fast moving. Anyone who knows, say, New York and Los Angeles, would feel that they were right there beside you as you covered the ground in these cities. I note that you experienced the sting of prejudice but, like our President, you just brushed it off and kept moving, demonstrating to us that, whatever barriers are put in your way, you can still succeed in this country.

It is a fun read; whether it is about you trying to get Motown Records to issue a Michael Jackson Christmas album or you trying to collect royalties from dangerous sounding characters in Germany. These are just two of the many incidents that grace the pages of this book. I wish you every success with it, Artie.”

“I DID IT FOR A SONG”, perhaps the best ever title of a music industrybook.The title reflects the the entire mentality of the business in anera that produced more classic music and creativity then in any othertime in it’s history.The book reveals how it all went down through thejourney of one man …..

Harvey Cooper former head of 20th Century Records promotion.

“Artie, I got your book last night and read much of it through the night you have one incredible career. It’s an honor that you put me in your book literally in the same sentence with Paul Simon… How cool is that! I played a very, very, very small part, but what a part it was. You stopped by my office, at E B Marks Music and my ears heard that Joey Powers demo, Meet Me at Midnight Mary, and it was then I told you, that’s a hit, master it just the way it is. It was then that I told you to take it over to Amy Records. You did that … added a bass and the rest is history. Wow!”

Good to hear from you Artie. I love the songs you got to us. “HEAVY CHURCH”, “PLAY SOMETHING SWEET”, “LET ME SERENADE YOU”, FREEDOM FOR THE STALLION”, and “EASY EVIL”, The fans have put together a few videos for you!

Ed Silvers former CEO WARNER BROTHERS MUSICsays, “Forever a great promoter/publisher/writer, Artie has been my artist, my friend, and co-writer through many years of music business. It has always been more than fun to work together!! I wish we lived closer to one another”

Mike Millius Says: “Dude, The best and most realistic Woodstock Experience I’ve ever read. Honest in it’s telling and observations.

HAVE KNOWN ARTIE WAYNE SINCE THE EARLY AND COLORFUL DAYS ON BROADWAY IN NYC, WHEN WE RUBBED ELBOWS..I BELIEVE HE USED TO BE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ‘THE SHADOW’ BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS HAT AND CAPE-LIKE COAT HE USED TO WEAR..ARTIE HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO KEEPING US INFORMED MUSICALLY FROM HIS BROAD LIFE EXPERIENCE IN MUSIC AND LIFE, AND HIS COLLECTED RESPECT FROM MANY OF US WHO HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT.

FROM ANOTHER BROADWAY SURVIVOR..LARRY, ‘RHINESTONE RABBI’ WEISS.

Your story needs to be told via a film, or even a TV mini-series. It is fascinating!

John Harrold

peggy santiglia davison(The Angels)Says: “Hey Artie, I always knew you were talented and smart and the Blog is great. It’s so interesting to me because even though many of us were in the thick of it, we didn’t always know what others were thinking or doing behind the scenes. Maybe that’s my take as a performer since I was on the “road” so much back then, but it is facinating to read the stories. Even just reading the comment list, I see the names of some very long ago business and personal friends and it brings back many memories, mostly good:-). Much success to you in all your future endeavors.Peggy/The Angels/The Delicates

To a long lost friend. Having been part of your life in those wonderful early days and finally reconnecting after all these years I truly choke up with emotion. Oft times life is a bitch but through your incredible pain your presence, your insight, your memories have brought joy to the so many people you’ve met along the way.

I skimmed through the book the first time around but now I’ll eat up every word. Thanks for the great ride…and please don’t leave.

“Artie,Those were the days when our business was exciting every day.. I remember so well of what you wrote in your terrific book.. I miss those days & your weekly visits to our office at 1697 Broadway. We have great memories…”

Linda Perry Says: “Been a long time. So happy to hear you don’t miss a beat. You keep us all informed. Congratulations to a great guy.Best regards,”

Linda

ann munday Says, “It’s amazing to me that you and I have known each other over 31 years now!We were such children when we first met!

Congratulations on your passing another milestone. I know how hard you work, and I know how hard it all is for you physically and you’re truly amazing!”

Vikki Sallee-Dillard Says: “Hello Artie, You are the wonderful to provide “THE MUSIC” and all the information that you do. It is a TREASURE to me and others. Thank you Brother Artie. Your are the Best! Rare finds and Memories that most have never seen.”

“Your articles are, without fail, always entertaining, informative, and exciting. Few people make learning fun like you do. I love reading about the people behind the scenes of the music I loved so much as a youngster and still love today, and your write-ups about Artie Kornfeld, Russ Terrana, and others like them are so very much appreciated.”

“Artie, I’m loving your book and literally could not put it down until Chapter 22 when nature finally came knocking after my drinking an inordinate amount of coffee. Your writing style is lively and conversational. In a previous incarnation as a journalist I learned to “Write like you talk unless you’re from the Bronx.” It appears that you have come along and totally dispelled that adage. I love the story about your standing-up and telling a roomful of people that you don’t have to accept being exploited merely because you’re black; and nobody in the room was even aware of your racial make-up. Too funny. So much for the argument, right?”

Mark L. OstrovskyRichard Kimball Says: “Congrats Artie..Obviously you have waaaaaay too much time on your hands!!!!!”

: “Artie, you’re a consummate story teller and because we can track your personal history in tandem with the history of rock and roll. You were there, you’re honest about both your failures and triumphs. You da man! Proud to be your friend.”

Much loveJohn Brahaney

Copyright 2012 by Artie Wayne

WHILE FIGHTING LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ROYALTIES AWAY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS, MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF MY BOOK. ” I DID IT FOR A SONG”, WITH OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I HOPE YOU’LL CONSIDER BUYING ONE DIRECTLY FROM ME THROUGH PAYPAL FOR ONLY $9.98 AT artiewayne@gmail.com OR BY CHECK TO…ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92240

February 20, 2009

Maybe it’s me, but there doesn’t seem to be as many memorable Oscar winning songs as there once was. I remember the first music clip I ever saw was when I was 5 years old, “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from Walt Disney’s “Song Of The South”, which is now considered politically incorrect. When I located the long banned clip, my hands were sweating and my throat was dry as I clicked on the URL. But instead of seeing “Tar Babies” shuffling at the “Massa’s feet”, I saw a grandfathery African-American who was telling a story to a bunch of cartoon characters. I know the rest of the film is racist, filled with stereotypical embarrassing characters, but I’m willing to open my mind up and enjoy this great clip anyway.

One of the advantages of being a member of NARAS is being able to rub shoulders with the greatest writers and composers in the world. One of the greatest thrills of my career is to have been on several committees with Henry Mancini. He was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys, winning 20. Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys. Here’s one of his best, “MOON RIVER” 1961 from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

I was happy for my friend Paul Williams when he won the Oscar for this next song, I was happy for myself when my longtime friend and sometime songwriting partner Art Munson, gave me the acoustic guitar he played on Barbra Streisand’s record.“EVERGREEN” 1976 by Barbra Streisand from “A Star Is Born” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmxCPkvaszs&feature=related

I’ve known lyricist Tim Rice since he worked at EMI in London as an assistant to producer Bob Barrett. When I met him again it was to celebrate the success of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, which he wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber that Don Williams, Allan Rinde and I broke in the US.Here is one of Tim’s best collaborations, with Elton John. “CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?” 1994 by Elton John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkGDrV_2ehI

I’ll never forget the Thanksgiving I spent with Patti Dahlstrom and Maureen McGovern, both 20th Century Records artists, over at promotion head Paul Lovelace’s house. Paul cooked dinner for us, as we also celebrated Maureen’s record going to #1, which was written by my long time friend Al Kasha and his partner Joel Hirschorn.

In the early ‘60s my partner Kelli Ross and I ran Lesley Gore’s (“It’s My Party”, “You Don’t Own Me”) publishing company. Her 15 year old brother, Michael showed a lot of promise as a songwriter and composer. He didn’t come into his own, however, until 20 years later. “FAME” 1980 by Irene Cara http://au.truveo.com/Irene-Cara-Fame/id/2628494433

When my ex-wife Jeanette, who was film producer Don Simpson’s personal assistant, asked me if I’d like to hear the soundtrack to the latest Bruckheimer/Simpson film, I was beside myself! Don and I worked together when he was Joe Boyd’s assistant in the film department at Warner Brothers. We used to talk about the similarities between “hooks” in hit songs and “hooks” in movies, which put its entire premise in the title itself.Without question Don Simpson was the king of high concept movie titles! And here’s one of his greatest triumphs. “FLASHDANCE” 1983 by Irene Cara http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZ5R3C5bzs

Just before I moved to California, Richard Baskin, who was starring on Broadway in “Hair”, brings his fellow cast mate Keith Carradine over to my house to meet me. During the course of the evening Keith plays a song he’s just written that I keep asking to hear over and over again. A few years down the line when Richard becomes musical director on Robert Altman’s “Nashville” he has Keith sing it in the film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZ8PRWChb8

I became friendly with Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell”, “Pippin”) when I was trying to make a publishing deal with him at Warner Brothers Music. Both of us were rebels, who once tried to get into New York’s posh “21” without a tie! This rejection made us stronger, and might even had prompted Stephen to write “Colors Of The Wind’ 2005 from Disney’s “Pocahantas http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x57ymf_disney-pocahontas-colors-of-the-win_musicin French

One day while I was loading my car with groceries at the Mayfair Market in Hollywood, my pal, Gary LeMel who was running the Warner Brothers Film Department, came over to me barely able to contain himself! He said he just got Lionel Ritchie (“Dancing’ On The Ceiling”, “Hello”) to write and record the main song for the film “White Knights” starring Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Lionel was at the top of his game as well at the top of the charts, and when Gary played me the cassette of the record that was about to be released, I could see why he was so excited!

I once asked Carol Bayer Sager why there were so many writers on “Arthur’s Theme” and she explained that she been carrying a line our pal Peter Allen had once told her “Caught between the moon and New York City”. She told the line to her partner Burt Bacharach who was writing the score for the Dudley Moore movie, “Arthur”, then Christopher Cross (“Sailing”) put the icing on the cake when he recorded it.

I remember my friend, Stanley Greenberg at Scepter records playing me a demo that Burt Bacharach made for the film, “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid” with B.J. Thomas, who wasn’t in the best voice the day he recorded. That “demo” was ultimately used in the film.

When I was an artist recording for Casablanca I was hoping to get in the film that Neil Bogart was producing, “Thank God, It’s Friday”, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I did get one of the songs I sub-publish, “El Bimbo”, onto the soundtrack that featured Donna Summers’ Oscar winning song.